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Panthers roll Beavers 3-0

THOMAS — A week ago the Snake River volleyball squad gutted out a four game victory over Sugar-Salem, looking a little leg weary in the effort. After a rare weekend off, the Lady Panthers retook to their home court looking for a conference win as American Falls came calling.
The rest did the Panthers good as they cruised to a relatively easy 25-7, 25-10, 25-10 victory.
"I think that they came back with a new focus tonight," Snake River head coach Shelli VanOrden said. "I was happy with how they came out and performed."
Game one set the tone for the evening as the Panthers simply out-served the team from across the reservoir. In a six person rotation, the sixth didn't even get a chance to step to the service line as it took just five of them to finish off a Beaver team that simply had no answers for the Panther service game.
"The girls served the seams very well tonight," Coach VanOrden said. "We try to serve the ball into the seams to produce confusion for the returners and tonight, I think that the only service errors that we had were on a couple of serves that I called for a short serve."
Serving was at a premium to be sure as time and time again the Panthers placed the ball perfectly into the dead spot in the middle of the Beaver defense. In the rare moments when the Beavers back line moved forward to take it away, the Panthers simply pounded a hard jump serve to the back of the box for the points.
Shayla Christensen was particularly lethal from the service line running of a pair of 5 service point winners. Kenzi Taylor equaled her with a five point run of her own and Jocelyn Harper pitched in a six service point run that included a pair of aces.
Once the Beavers were able to return the ball, the Panthers were equally as impressive from the floor as Taylor dished out 15 assists. Brylie Bair was the biggest recipient of the fine passing as the sophomore pounded out 10 kills on the evening while Harper added 5 in the victory.
Snake River will hit the road this evening as they make the long bus ride to Bear Lake for what will surely promise to be a tooth and nail affair in the Bear Den.
"Bear Lake always bring their best game against us and I expect that it will be a very good game," Coach VanOrden said. "Both teams are real good and either team can win it. I do believe that if we come out as focused as we did tonight that we will get the win."